A few snippets from December

 My brother B.and his wife C. came to visit.  They brought their adorable daughter too.  Rachel was in heaven!  There was so much giggly, silly time!  We spent time doing a 3D puzzle of wolves, watching silly videos on youtube and just hanging out.  Thanks for coming down! 

 The kids made an awesome looking gingerbread house.  Jonny made no secret that the real reason to decorate it is so that you can add as much candy as possible.  You can tell from James' pose that the house did not last the day.  We like ginger bread houses! 

Here's Mia in her Christmas outfit.  I think she looks cute!  She told me she wanted to "look like a highlighter." I did my best to fill that request, maybe it was not what she had in mind..  I hope she will wear it again- I think she looks good dressed like a highlighter.

Apparently, a Guest Blogger

I found this hidden in the archives:

One day, James decided Mom hadn't posted on her blog in a while, so he decided it had to be the end of the world, because she used to never stop.

Team Mascot

Jonny was on a flag football team this year- the Eagles.  I didn't get any good photos of the team, but I did get this fantastic video of their mascot!  Mia went all out with her costume and dance routine for this game.  Yes, she kept it up for the entire hour... that's stamina!
I think an older brother might have been embarrassed, but the younger brothers didn't mind one bit. 

(This one may have crying in the back ground, so it might be more fun with the sound off.) 

Rachel in the fall

This summer we were fortunate enough to have 2 girls her age move in on our street.  They keep Rachel from being lonely during the school day.    When the weather was a bit warmer than it is now (in Feb), Rachel and I went to the farm with the girls. 

It was a fun time with friends- here they are telling what they think of the pig barn!   

 

 And here's a picture of Rachel holding up her broken thumb.  She had the cutest accident imaginable.  Sounds funny, but true.  She was wearing a blanket cape and running around.  She wanted the blanket cape to be fast looking and float up behind her, so she was fluffing it up as she ran.  Then her thumb got caught in the rails as she ran down the stairs.  I am not the best at spotting broken bones, but I figured if her thumb was swollen and burning hot after being iced for 10 minutes, something was up.  Sure enough- it was cracked at the base.  After taping it for a few weeks, it's good as new.

October/Halloween 2013 Catch Up

Now I don't have a pictures on hand of Simon and Jonny's birthdays. I am sure we took some, I just haven't located them yet.   I also don't have pictures of Jonny's baptism.  Suffice it to say, they were all wonderful events.  I am especially pleased with Jonny's decision to be baptized and I was honored to speak at that event.  I was also glad for the good friends and neighbors who attended. 

Now, on to lighter things:

One morning before church, James and Jonny were giving Simon a hard time about being the shortest boy in the house.  Not sure why, since he is also the youngest boy in the house.  I decided to help him out a little and turned him into the not so shortest one in the house.  With this hair do, he became taller than Jonny, 2 years his senior. 

 When Jonny turned 8, he joined the Cub Scouts.  He loves passing things off!  He will flip through the book finding things to do.  In the back of the book are directions for disappearing ink- write with lemon juice on paper.  Once it dries, it disappears.  The book says to hold it over a light bulb to make the writing appear.  It doesn't work, but holding it over the stove does.  Just keep the baking soda and grown ups on hand because you might start a fire.     Don't you love the message?  Come over today at 3 and bring Nerf guns. 

Remember how I told you Mia was asked to help plan the neighbor's Halloween party?  Here's the fishing booth the kids made.  James hid behind this passing out plastic teeth, necklaces, and candy to anyone who was willing to fish.  This was quite popular.  There was also a mummy wrapping contest, pumpkin bowling, pinatas and a costume parade.  I did not get a picture of this, but the neighbors built an alien crash landing site in their yard to be the haunted house.  It was unbelievable- a smoke machine, glowing lights, and people in hazmat suits dissecting an alien corpse.  It was pretty awesome and I could go on and on, but I'll stop there. 

James's middle school had a fun Halloween party with  photo opportunity. 

Here's pictures of  the kids that wanted to be associated with me at the event:

Mia

Rachel

Jonny- this ended up being the best photo bomb ever!  Some kid wandered in and it adds to the theme. 

 Here's Simon.  He was dressed as a hot dog that night, hence the red hood.  I call this the Gate Keeper of Oz photo.  Just imagine that he's green. 

And here they are- ready to trick or treat!  James and Jonny dressed as the scream guy.  Mia was a shepherd, Rachel her sheep.  Simon was a hot dog.  Happy Halloween! (belated)

Future Scientist

Jonny's teacher put together a poster of the kids in his class.  Each kid is holding up a little sign that says what they will be when they grown up. 

Here's Jonny- the future scientist

 

He got a really cool magnet kit for his birthday (thanks, Chris and Tirah!)  He built this little car with it.  The car rolls using magnetic force- as he moved that handle toward the car, the car would roll away.  Science is fun!

September (ish) Recap 2013: random photos I hope you enjoy

With September came the first day of school. 

Doesn't James look happy on his first day of 7th grade?  I think so.  They others were probably happy on the first day of school too.  Too bad I forgot to take pictures!



 

Favorite after school snack: Ants on a Yacht- You might ask "why a yacht?"  Because we're too fancy for logs. 

 

Here's Gary after a LONG day of church meetings.  He probably fell asleep reading to one of the kids and they just abandoned him there.    He's pretty darn cute, don't you think?  This may be the only recent picture I have of him. Sorry Hubbycakes! 

I painted the kitchen cabinets and the wall.  I didn't think of taking a BEFORE picture until AFTER.  Timing is everything, I guess.  The cabinets used to be mustard yellow with white trim and there was green paint and wallpaper above, a French street, I think.  After 4 years here, I thought it was time to make it my own.  Still not sure I like the shade of blue I chose, but it's an improvement. 

I made this massive wall thing of all of James' cub scout awards- and left half of it blank.  I wanted to make sure it looked like there was plenty of room for the boy scout stuff. (Motivating? We'll see)  So then I figured, I could make something like that of my own.  It's a lot smaller- a 5x7 frame.  You may or may not recognize some of these pendants and pins: bronze and silver medals in American Social Dancing, YW medallions, my Girls Camp Tree, a blood donor pin from the Red Cross, and the Gospel in Action award. 

The kids and I went to see a 2 man play at the library.  It was based on Prince Caspian.  They called kids out of the audience and Mia got chosen.  There she is in the bunny ears.  She got to be in the battle to save Narnia or something like that.  It was cute!  Was I freaked out that she was wearing SOMEONE ELSE'S head band.  YES.  But I am just freaky like that- I fully admit I have a phobia of head lice. 

Rachel and I were out shopping one day and we found this old fashioned sleigh.  It was in a random place and so of course, we had to take a picture with it.  So cute!

One day, Rachel was feeling crafty, so she made herself a paper sister and dressed it in one of her costumes.  She loved it so much.  She buckled it in the car and everything.  Then when she abandoned it, I thumbtacked it to my laundry room wall.  That's where my favorite kid art goes.  (That's because the kids always knocked it off the fridge and it was not fun to always be rehanging things, but I digress.)  So one day, she came in to help with the laundry and she was horrified "Why did you nail my sister to the wall?!" she cried.  Whoops!  I hadn't meant to traumatize anyone. 

Here it is!  This one was going to be a post of it's own, once upon a time.  I was moving the fridge for my painting project (see above) when I found the little stick that goes in this frog (it makes a ribbit sound if you rub the stick on the  back.)  It had been missing for at least 2 years.  So, what once was lost, now was found!  Come rejoice with me!  I felt like that lady in the bible that finds her lost coin and calls the neighbors to celebrate.  You all just got a late invitation to the party. 

Mia's Little Dresses for Africa

 Here's Mia with the summer dresses she sewed for Little Dresses for Africa.  (http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/)
She really enjoyed this project and will probably do it again this coming summer.  These dresses are made with pillowcases and oh so simple. If you'd like to give it a go yourself, follow the link above.  If you are not that crafty, but think it's a good idea, feel free to send Mia your new or gently used pillowcases and she'll take care of the rest. 

Summer Updates 2013

Well- I think the original reason I started blogging was because it was too hard to wait for pictures or movies to upload on our dial up connection (hey it was 2008- everyone was dialing up, right?) and it was easier to just type up a few lines here and there.  Pictures and movies are fun, but again, I find they are holding things up.  I have these movies I made back in late March. I really wanted to share them with you.  They are of James singing some of his solos from Willy Wonka Jr.  Unfortunately, the files won't upload properly (not the problem of dial up anymore, thankfully).  So every now and then and I try to put them up.  However, I think it's time to move on. 

This summer is well under way.  I think things are going pretty well.  Rachel had a swim lesson- she passed her level (waddler.)  I noticed that she was the youngest and not always the quickest BUT she was the best at following directions.  Example, the teacher had a game where the kids had to put their faces in the water BEFORE picking up rings from the floor of the pool.  So Rachel would dutifully put her face in the water every time before picking up rings.  The other kids would run around picking up rings and have stacks of them because they did not put their faces in the water and Rachel would have just a few.  Finally, she got tired of that and ran around picking up rings like the rest of them.  Then she sat down in a corner of the pool and put her face in the water once for each ring she gathered.   I guess that time, she only kind of followed directions. 

James did his first ever week at boy scout camp.  He did this wilderness survival overnighter where you could only take what fit in your front pockets with you.  He took a rope, a poncho and a space blanket.  Sounds like some good planning to me.  He refers to it as the "wilder-terror-freezing-blanket stealing-cannibalistic-thought inducing night."   I have only heard a few bits and pieces about the experience, but apparently, he and 3 buddies ended up sleeping on top of the poncho with twigs piled around them (attempt at shelter)  and through out the night, the others kept waking him up to steal pieces of his blanket.  Yes, I said pieces.  So by the time the night was over he had only a scrap left to rest  his head on.  I have no idea where the cannibalistic thoughts came in, but hope that part was for dramatic effect only!

Mia is at girl scout camp and having a great time. My only regret is that the camps close to us were filled up so I end up spending about 3 hours a day driving her there and back.  (30 minute drive, 30 minute wait, 30 minute return.  Repeat) But she is having a blast there and making friends, so I am glad to do it this once.  You can bet she'll be the first one registered for camp next year.  The camp has a lot of camp elements (crafts, hike, fishing), but the theme is Lights, Camera, Action.  The girls are spending time devoted to developing their own skit for a production at the end of the week.  Mia told me she needs a large stuffed snake (thankfully we have a few) and head phones for hers.  Should be interesting.     
Mia is also sewing pillowcase dresses for a program called "Little Dresses for Africa." People can sew dresses and then mail them to be distributed at orphanages.   Funny story how she happened into this project.  We were eating dinner and she said that she was thinking about donating her hair to Locks of Love.   She said that she didn't really want to cut her hair, but couldn't think of another way to help people.  So I spent some time looking around for a service project she could feel good about and do independently (a big deal for her- she loves her independence.)  Last summer, she took sewing classes at Joann's and learned to make pillowcases, aprons, etc.  So when I found this program "Little Dresses for Africa" I figured she had the skills to participate.  She is currently working on 5 dresses.  She had a goal to do 50 dresses and 50 shorts (for Britches for Boys.)  I don't think she'll get that far, but 5 is definitely a good start. 

Jonny's camp got cancelled.  It was Lego Mindstorm Robotics.  He was planning to program the robot to clean his room.  Perhaps it was good it got cancelled, he may have been disappointed.  He has been doing IXL the math facts website, chores and park meet ups with friends.  His friends always seem to be available, which is great for him, but tends to make the other kids a teeny bit jealous.  I must put in a good word for Jonny here.  Everyone here is supposed to be doing IXL and chores, but he is the most dutiful. 
The other day, Jonny announced that he was going to be a vegetarian because eating meat made him feel like a cannibal.  After careful explanation of the difference between a cannibal and a carnivore, he insists that it's cannibal.  So, no more pepperoni or bacon (the only meat he eats, which we seldom have.)  So for dinner, I put a large bowl of peanut butter and celery next to him and told him that's what vegetarians can eat at our house- that and refried beans.  He was very happy to find that out.  We'll see how long it lasts.


Simon plays games with others and rides his scooter.  He likes to play games, especially Scene It and Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. One day, Jonny talked him into playing Twister and Battleship at the same time.  (Right Foot Green, A2)  Man that was  hoot!  I asked each kid to come up with a hobby this summer and Simon came up with "Baking Brownies With Whipped Cream."  Somehow that was not what I had in mind.  He has a good sense of humor, but has not come up with a more realistic hobby yet.   

I checked out Garfield Comics and Peanuts Collections from the library and everyone is loving them.  If anyone has suggestions for other comic collections, pass them on.  We may need a few more before the summer is over.  (FYI, during the school year we did Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes)

useful invention

Conversation overheard between Gary and Rachel last night:
Rachel: We should have a jump button on the van so we don't hit the deer.
Gary made a comment to clarify that she wants a button so that the van can jump over deer instead of hitting them. 
Rachel: Daddy- we should paint it purple and pink. 

Yes- a purple and pink jump button would have come in handy earlier this week.  

Everyone is fine but the deer and the van.  Thank goodness for that!

moments

Well, here it is the end of March and I have not been the good blogger I hoped to be.

I've had funny moments to share, like the time I told Rachel it was time to go buy gas. She got all excited until she found out it was for the car instead of her bottom.  She gets a good chuckle everytime she toots and thought it was the best thing ever that you could BUY gas. 

I've had proud moments, like last weekend when James starred as Charlie Bucket in the middle school production of Willy Wonka.  I was so impressed with his natural ability to capture that role.  He's a great singer too.  My favorite moment was watching his face during his last performance as he went out for a final bow.  He went through a wide range of emotions in that moment.  I think only his mom could see them all.  The relief at having done a hard thing, the joy at receiving recognition for it, and maybe a twinge of sad that the experience was coming to an end. 

I've had crying moments, like the week where Rachel had hiB- something we're all vaccinated for, but for some reason she got it anyway.  That was a crying week and a cuddling week for her .  Like when James turned 12 and I cried that my first baby was too big.

I've had heartsick moments, when James' mouse died- 9 days in to the experience.  Those were my tears- I don't know how we managed to kill it, but I felt so bad.  Hopefully Mouse 2.0 will last a lot longer. 

I've had sleepless moments, like last night where Jonny barged in every 40 minutes to flip on the lights and yell- "I just can't take it anymore!"  Yep- he's sick.  Half past midnight, I broke the news to him, I had maxed him out on pain relievers and he could either watch a movie to distract himself or I could read him a story until he fell asleep.   He left and two minutes later handed me a set of scriptures.  I read him a couple of chapters from Ecclesiates and he was out.  My heart was warmed that he chose the word of God for comfort at that time. 

I've had relieving moments, like when I took the kids to the allergist and found out Simon is no longer allergic to dairy (just cats, weeds and mold) and Mia is allergic to strawberries and coconut (and trees.)  It's great to have Simon on dairy- he loves real cheese and I now have more options when I cook.  And having Mia off strawberries and coconut has greatly improved the condition of her skin, something that has bothered her for years. 
Another relieving moment watching the food donations come together for the Annual Spaghetti dinner at the elementary school.  I was begging local restaurants for donations for months and it was so hard to get them to commit, but in the end the Lord poured out his blessings and we had enough. 

I've had frazzled moments that I can't describe because I can't even remember what set them off.  But I can pretty much guarantee there was pants pooping involved.

I've had snooping moments, like when I listened in on James and Mia having a conversation- I even let them stay up late to finish because I couldn't believe they were actually talking to each other.  And of course they were having a hearty critique of my parenting style.  (yeah she pretty much thinks she's a queen...)  But hey- at least they were agreeing on something. 

I've had moments where I get to spray my kids with homemade veggie water.  That's my new solution to name calling.  It kind of works.  Right now, I've got a vial of beet juice.  Bonus is, even if it does not stop the name calling, it acclimates my children to the taste of vegetables.  (so far celery and green beans are "toxic waste" and beets and cabbage turned out to be popular)
When I was at Costco today, all of the kids came too.  As we picked up items and "snacked around" one of the sample ladies asked if they were all my kids.  I said yes and she exclaimed "but you are so sexy!" in that moment I really hoped that her accent was thick enough that no one else understood.  She continued on that maybe I should have 5 more kids.  As soon as we were out of ear shot, James asked why I didn't spray her mouth with beets.  I wondered that too, sort of.

I've had girly moments, like when I used a flat iron for the first time.  I always wondered how the other girls at church had smooth straight hair.   Now I know!  Mia and I are still undecided over whether sleep or beauty is more important.  Did I just say that out loud?! Another girly moment involved learning that there is something called "day 2 hair."   I saw it on a few different hair do ing websites and I wonder if it's a nice way to say "unwashed hair" or is it something else?  Sigh-  34 and just hitting the tip of the ice berg on being a girl. 

I've had sweetheart moments, doing the foxtrot in the kitchen with my hubby when the kids are in bed.  He melts my heart every time!

I've had spiritual moments: when James received the Aaronic Priesthood and when he couldn't wait to tell me all about going to do temple baptisms for the very first time.  Special times.

Lots of growing and changing going on around here.  I just can't wait for more precious moments. 

Clappers and Kids

When I first got married, I had a Clapper.  I received it as a gift when I was a teenager and it was a fun novelty item.  I had it hooked up to my lava lamp.  It got broken in one of our first moves and has since been lamented and laughed at, alternately. 
Gary recently had a birthday and I bought him a Clapper just for fun.  Well, it turns out that a Clapper and a house full of kiddodiddos is not a good combination.  The claps need to be evenly spaced and we are all really good at clapping.  However if a noise happens betweens the claps (or if someone else claps just off beat), the clapper will not turn things on.  So now we have A LOT of yelling that sounds like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBDiYuEkP4M\
Yes, just like that because Santa brought Pee Wee's Big Adventure for Christmas. 
The extra yelling, combined with the extra crying (stop clapping, it's messing me up) and the lights flashing off and on with every random sound that could be clapping is less than ideal. 
Perhaps I should have noticed there are only quiet, old people in the advertisements.  Maybe it will work out better for us in about 40 years!

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We were sitting around watching Gilligan's Island tonight (thanks John and Molly!!!) On the episode we were watching the castaways were gathering up metal objects to melt down to make an anchor.   Ginger and Mary Ann offer up junk jewelry.  Gilligan offered up his skateboard wheels.   The kids laughed and shouted out "who takes a skateboard on a deserted island?!" Then they remembered that Jonny took his skateboard on a recent camp out and laughed even harder at that. 

Little Singer

Rachel loves to sing and entertain.  It does not take much to get her to do "Gotta Dance" from Singin' in the Rain.  Her latest favorite song is one she made up that goes like this:
The hot dog and the crackers
And the bread in the toaster
Had some breakfast with some bowls of cereal
(fill in the next few lines any way you want, that part changes around)

While driving around in the car the other day, she asked me to sing the "Night in Jail" song.  I told her I didn't know a song like that.  She told me I did, it was from Cinderella.  I insisted that I didn't know a song about a "night in jail" but she contradicted me saying "it's the Sing Sweet Night in Jail one"  OH Yes I do know that one.  It took some real talking to convince her that it's "nightingale."  I think we had to watch the movie for proof.

Rachel received a gift card for Christmas to Toys R Us.  She perused the whole store looking for just the right thing and finally settled on an umbrella and a pair of high heels.  She says they are her tap shoes.  She makes walking and holding and umbrella look like hard work... and it is when you are 2.  Soon she will be a real pro.